The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-01-15
OTTAWA AND MANUFACTURES.

For years there has been more or less
discussion both in the newspapers and In
various meetings of the Business Mems As
ISOLATION of the question, why does not
Ottawa grow and become large city,"
Numberless reasons have been assigned
for the apparent standstill in the city's
growth and various plans are suggested
| for bringing about better state Of affairs,
In population and no greater activity
In business circles IL Is doubtful If
there is as much business done by our mer-
chants with traders from outside the imme-
diate township as there was twenty years
/ ago. II there Is any increase In their
trade 1t j. because If greater consumption
of the luNuries Of life within the limits of
the city and few adjoining townships.
The country round about the city is
steadily increasing in value, the farmers
are growing more thrifty, aud are expend-
ing more each year in the way of living
expenses. The city itself has better dwell.
lings than it had ten years since, better
schools, better streets and better public
buildings, and some few larger establish.
ments yet despite all this, II has not grown
rs the people might have expected. The
growth has been just about what would
naturally result without any effort whatsO-
ever having been put forth either by pri,
vate individuals or the public. Depending
upon the farming Interests about the city
to make Ottawa town of any consldera.
bic size or importance has, after IA trial of
a long series of years, proven failure
and unless our citizens are willing to allow
the city to remain in almost state of 'in-
noCuOus deseutude" there should he, dur.
ing the ensuing year, such steps taken MS
will at least invite and encourage the city's
growth.
The truth Is, rs some writer keenly puts
It, IA city canno, become wealthy, prosper.
Gus and powerful without the aid of man.
utaCtures'-a truth that not only Commends
itself TO ones best judgment but is as we'll
a fundamental principle of political econ
omy. The essential necessity to make any
city city of importance is the commerce
that results from manufacturing industries,
not the commerce that depends solely upon
agriculture. The commerce of the former
is sure and Steady-that of the latter un.
certain and shifting The latter is always
subject 10 Change-may be drawn 10 other
points--or may fail almost entirely with a
failure OF crops or because of low prices
of farm products, whilst the former, once
firmly established, increases in importance
and becomes source of continuing growth
and wealth
In proof of this assertion there Is pub.
lished in today's FREE TRADER, upon the
"a inside) page, an article taken from the
Age IF Steel, which We commend 10 the
people of Ottawa, ana for which We ask a
careful thoughtful reading. In illustra
ton of the position assumed by the writer,
that il is the commerce that springs from
manufacturing industries that builds up a
nation or city rather than agricultural
commerce, he cites the following figures
made 10y distinguished English econo.
mist:
Between 1901 and 1881 Birmingham in
creased from 1868 10 400,757. nearly 500
per cent; Sheffield from 81 ,3li 20 2s4 ,4l0, |
nearly $40 per cent; Leeds from 80, l62 to
nm DAT naarly rDD mar cent. Paisley from /
81 ,l79 10 19,096, $50 per cent; Bradford